In Brief
The Supreme Court set aside a High Court order that granted retrospective appointment with effect from 1997 to respondents-contempt petitioners in a contempt proceeding. The underlying writ orders (2001, 2012) had directed only 'due consideration' of their cases against vacant positions, not retrospective appointment. The Court held that contempt jurisdiction cannot grant relief beyond what was determined in the substantive writ proceedings. Appointments made in 2015 following due consideration cannot be backdated through contempt proceedings. The Court noted that pension rules allow relaxation of qualifying service in appropriate cases if needed.
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